James e



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. R. STREETT.

RIFLING MACHINE FOR HEAVY GUNS.

Paten ii (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2. J...R. STREETT.

RIPLING MACHINE FOR. HEAVY GUNS.

No. 818,824. Patented May 26, 1885.

WITIJEEE N Rs. Fhawuuw n ren Wnhingwn. D. C.

llurrnn Smarts PATENT Orrrca.

JAMES R. STREETT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO JAMES H. L. EAGER, OF SAME PLACE.

RIFLlNG-MACHINE FOR HEAVY GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,824, dated May 26,1885.

Application filed March 18, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES R. S'rnnnrr, residing at I'Vashington, in theDistrict of O- lumbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Riflingdtlachines for Heavy Guns,of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to implements for riding heavy guns; and itconsists in the constructions and combinations hereinafter set forth andclaimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation and front view of ariding-head with cutters for riding eight grooves. Fig. 2 is anelevation of the same head with cutters and cutter-carriers removed.Fig. 3 is a partial section of the same head through the cutter-box.Fig. 4 is a detached view of one of the cutterholders. Fig. 5 is a frontend elevation of a modification of the riding-head, part of the frontplate broken away. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal central section of same.Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the cutter-box, cutter-carriers, andcutting-bits. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the cutter-carrierbox. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the cutters. Figs. 10 and 11are front and side views of a graduated wrench for adjusting theregulating-screws.

I will first describe the modification shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

A is the cutter-stock, which is attached by its shank B to a riding-bar,and is forced for- -5 ward into the gun, (preferably from the muzzle,)the forward movement and the twist being produced by machinery of usualconstruction, the same forming no part of my present invention. Thefront end of this stock has a cruciform slot, A, therein when four setsof cutters are used.

lhe center piece 0 rests in a recess in the front end of stock A, and issecured therein by bolt 1). This center piece 0 has as many 5 planefaces on opposite sides as it is found desirable to operate upon. In thepresent case the piece 0 has four plane faces, which form 7 supports foras many cutter-holders; but it is apparent that the center piece mayhave any number of faces, and that two, four, or any other number ofcutter-holders may be applied and a corresponding number of grooves cutat each advance of the cutter-stock.

E is the front plate of the rifling-head,which rests against the stock Aand is firmly secured 5 5 thereto, thus making inclosed casings of theslots across the face of the cutter-stock, each casing having a radialopening. In each of these inclosures in the riding-head there is aclosely-fitting cutter-box, F, which has its seat against the centerpiece G, and is held against rising by the pin G passing through thefaceplate and box and entering the stock A.

In each cutter-box there is one, or, preferably, a pair ofcutter-carriers, H, pivoted at I on a spindle passing through thecutter-box from side to side.

The cuttercarrier has a rear projection having curved end K,which restsin a curved recess in the cutter-box. The lower arm, L, of thecutter-carrier .is also preferably arcshaped,and the cutter-box is madeto conform thereto. An offset, M, from the side of the lower arm gives abearing for the set-screw N,-Which passes through the front plate. Aspring, O, in the rear wall of the box bears against the lower arm ofthe cutter-carrier.

A forward-projecting arm, S, extends into a notch in plate E.

The upper face of the cutter-carrier has a dovetailed groove, in.whichthere is a cutter,

P, of hardened steel, secured firmly in the dovetailed groove in thecutter-carrier, and projecting above the face of the carrier. Thesecutters or teeth are arranged at an obliquity relative to the axis ofthe riding-head, approximating the average pitch of the riflegrooves.They are secured in position in any convenient manner, as by screws or ascrewplate,iu front and rear. The cutters are nar- 9o rowerin the rearthan in front, and the grooves in which they are held are ofcorresponding form.

The screws N N pass through thefront plate, E, and are in front of thecarriers H, in such position that said carriers cannot swing forward farenough to elevate the tools P beyond the depth of the completed riding,when these screws need not be moved again during the operation of ridingthe gun. The screws N Q I Y 318,824

are turned out slightly at the first cut, when spring will press forwardthe arm L of the cuttercarrier. As the riding-head is forced forward theresistance of the cutter tends to rock the cutter-carriers toward thescrews N, and thus drive the cutters deeper into the work; but thescrews N serve to prevent this. After each cut the screws N may beretracted, thus permitting the cutters to make a deeper cut. Thesescrews N must be all uniformly adjusted, so that all the cutters willenter the groove to an equal depth. This adjustment is accomplished by awrench working on a graduated are or disk. (See Figs. 10, 11.) It beingpremised that all the cutters have the same radial projection, then thegraduated plate R is applied against the face-plate E, so that thewrench S, which is swiveled in plate B, may

pass over the head of one of the screws N. The wrench B may then beturned, and a very fine adj nstment thus be made, and by turning all thescrews N successively in this manner the cutters are advanced equally.

The same wrench, or one difiering only in size, may be used in the samemanner for operating the screw which advances or retracts wedge-piece O,as will be hereinafter described. I will now describe the constructionof my device, whereby all the cutters may be adjusted simultaneously.

The cutter-box F, Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, differs but slightly inconstruction from that here inbefore described. Side plates, at a, arerabbeted to the base I), and attached by screws or pins for conveniencein construction. The cutter-carriers H are pressed forward by spring 0against the screws N, which pass through the front plates, q, of thebox, their heads extending through slots in the face-plate E.

The center piece 0 is made wedge-shaped for a portion of its length, andthe stock A is recessed to permit a longitudinal movement of this centerpiece, the movement being accomplished by means of the screw e, whichpasses through the center piece and has a collar, f, at each endthereof, and engages a screwthread in the head-stock;

The cutter-boxes are held by keys or splines g to the center piece 0these keys being dovetailed into the boxes and center piece in suchmanner as to permit alongitudinal movement of the center piece withreference to the boxes, but to hold the boxes firmly against radialmovement away from the center piece.

' The face-plate E may have a central detachable piece, E, to permit theremoval of the wedge-shaped center-piece O and its screw entirely fromthe stock, which thus permits the radial withdrawal of the cutter-boxes.

It is intended that the joint between the cutter-carrier H and thecutter-boxes (as at m) shall be tight, to prevent any chips or scraps ofmetal entering. The joint at a may be closed by the insertion of bits ofrubber or similar material.

The cutters operate as the bar is thrust or drawn forward, the springs 0serving to press them first into operative position, and the screws Nholding them against advancing into theimetal farther than thepredetermined distance. In withdrawing the head the tools press thesprings back, and no injury to the completed work results.

The cutters can be advanced after each cut to the amount required forthe next out either by setting the screws N or by moving in thewedge-piece G, which presses out all the cutter-boxes uniformly.

Very fine adjustments of the cutters are required, to distances measuredby the onethousandth of an inch. This fine adjustment of all the cutterssimultaneously may be meas ured by the movement of the wrench S on itsgraduated plate, when the wrench is applied to the screw 6, whichactuates center-piece O.

I claim 1. A riding-head having radial grooves, cutter-boxes therein,pivoted cutter-carriers in said boxes, and cutters on said carriers, asset forth.

2. In combination with a rifling-head, a

radially-movable box therein, a cutter-carrier.

in said box, having a firm abutment to resist its outward extensionwhile moving forward, and a spring which yields to permit the depressionof the cutter while withdrawing the head.

3. The combination, with a riding headstock having radial grooves, of aseries of cutter-boxes, cutters, and carriers mounted in said grooves.

4. In a riding-head, the combination of a grooved stock, a face-plateattached thereto, a series of cutter-boxes in said grooves, and pivotedcutter-carriers in said boxes, as set forth.

5. The cutter-boxes, the pivoted cutters therein having close jointswith the boxes, and springs for rocking the cutter-carriers on theirpivots.

6. The combination, with the cutter-boxes and pivoted cutters mountedtherein, of adj Listing-screws in front of said cutter-carriers todetermine the limit of movement thereof.

7. The combination, with the rifling-head, of a series of cutter-boxesin radial grooves therein, and a plurality of cutters mounted in eachcutter-box, substantially as described.-

' 8. In a rifling-head, the combination, with the stock, of aradially-movable central wedgepiece, a series of cutter-boxessurrounding said wedge-piece and keyed thereto to permit radial but notlongitudinal movement, and a plurality of pivoted cuttercarriers mountedin said boxes.

9. In a cutter-carrier box, the combination of the base b, the sidepieces, a a, rabbeted thereto, and the cutter-carriers pivoted in saidbox on a pivot passing through the sides thereof, substantially asdescribed.

10. The combination, with the stock A, of the face-plate E, havingremovable center piece E, the wedging center piece 0, the In testimonywhereof Iaffix my signature in screw 6, which aetnates said centerpiece, presence of two witnesses.

and the cutter-boxes keyed to said center piece, as set forth. JAMES R.STREETT.

11. The combination, with the set-screws of a, rifling-head, of agraduated wrench-plate, Witnesses:

and the wrench pivoted in said plate, as set MARGARET STREETT,

forth. J AMES H. L. EAGER.

